If you are looking for a miracle fruit that offers optimum health, beautiful skin and radiant hair, you might have to search a bit farther than the produce department. How about the Brazilian rainforest? Not a big fan of jungle critters? No worries, this super fruit called Acai berries is now available on this side of the equator.
Acai (pronounced Ah-SIGH-ee) berries have become quite popular in the past few years, but the people of the Brazilian rainforest have long revered this gorgeous purple fruit that grows on a palm tree.
There is a story told about the discovery of the acai berry. An Amazon Indian girl was the daughter of the tribal chief. The tribe had grown so large that they did not have enough food, and the chief was forced to create a rule that made it necessary to kill any newborn babies. He was unable to spare even his grandchild when his daughter, Iaca, gave birth.
She mourned her child to the point of hearing the cries of a baby outside her hut. She desperately searched for what she thought was her newborn baby crying for her. Instead, she found a new palm tree growing in the midst of the Amazon rainforest. Terribly heartbroken, she lay beneath the palm tree and died.
When the tribe found her, they also found the berries. The berries were so nutritious and plentiful, that the tribe never had to worry about food again. The chief banned the law and all newborns were now safe. He named the berries Acai after his daughter (acai is Iaca spelled backward).
Folklore aside, modern science has discovered some truly magical qualities about the acai berry. Acai berries contain super antioxidants, essential amino acids and omega 3 fatty acids.
Antioxidants are all capable of fighting cancer by fighting free radicals that damage cells and are the prelude to cancer and the aging process. The super antioxidant in acai berries that gives the berries their royal purple color is called anthocyanin. This super antioxidant has been found to slow and stop the growth of tumors. Antioxidants are also necessary for repairing damaged cells and replenishing tissue.
Free radical damage is also responsible for the aging process, so acai berries are capable of fighting premature aging at the cellular level.
Essential amino acids are important for tissue structure. Though only animal protein contains a complete blend of essential amino acids, it also contains dangerous saturated fat. Acai berries contain a nearly complete blend of essential amino acids making them fabulous for maintaining tissue structure (i.e. collagen in skin cells).
Acai berries do not contain saturated fat, but they do contain the good fat, omega 3 fatty acids which can lower LDL (bad cholesterol)and raise HDL (good cholesterol) making them excellent (just like fish) in preventing cardiovascular disease.
Acai berries are simply the most remarkable fruit that we know about at this time. Acai berries can slow the aging process, prevent disease and simply improve your overall health! They are delicious and fantastic for smoothies. They are also available in other forms such as supplements and powder.
Read labels carefully and make sure that you are not purchasing an acai berry that is not pure or a juice that is mostly corn syrup with very little acai berries.
